Structure Chinese architecture

mortise , tenon work of tie beams , cross beams, li jie s building manual yingzao fashi, printed in 1103.



foundations: buildings typically erected on raised platforms (臺基) foundations. vertical structural beams may rest on raised stone pedestals (柱础) rest on piles. in lower class construction, platforms constructed of rammed earth platforms unpaved or paved brick or ceramics. in simplest cases vertical structural beams driven ground directly. upper class constructions typically have high raised stone paved rammed earth or stone foundations ornately carved heavy stone pedestals supporting large vertical structural beams. vertical beams rest , remain on pedestals solely friction , pressure exerted building structure.
structural beams: use of large structural timbers primary support of roof of building. wooden timber, large trimmed logs, used load-bearing columns , lateral beams framing buildings , supporting roofs. these beams connected each other directly or, in larger , higher class structures, tied indirectly through use of brackets. these structural timbers prominently displayed in finished structures. not definitively known how ancient builders raised huge wooden load bearing columns position.
structural connections: timber frames typically constructed joinery , doweling alone, seldom use of glue or nails. these types of semi-rigid structural joints allow timber structure resist bending , torsion while under high compression. structural stability further ensured through use of heavy beams , roofs, weighs structure down. lack of glue or nails in joinery, use of non-rigid support such dougong, , used of wood structural members allow buildings slide, flex, , hinge while absorbing shock, vibration, , groundshift earthquakes without significant damage structure.
walls: common use of curtain walls or door panels delineate rooms or enclose building, general de-emphasis of load-bearing walls in higher class construction. however, reduction in availability of trees in later dynasties building structures, use of load-bearing walls in non-governmental or religious construction increased, brick , stone being commonly used.


diagram of corbel wood bracket supports ( dougong ) holding multi-inclined roof, architectural treatise yingzao fashi (1103 ad)



roofs: flat roofs uncommon while gabled roofs omnipresent in traditional chinese architecture. roofs either built on roof cross-beams or rest directly on vertical structural beams. in higher class construction, roof supporting beams supported through complex dougong bracketing systems indirectly connect them primary structural beams. 3 main types of roofs found:


roof apex: roof apex of large hall topped ridge of tiles , statues both decorative purposes weigh down layers of roofing tiles stability. these ridges decorated, religious or palatial structures. in regions of china, ridges extended or incorporated walls of building form matouqiang (horse-head walls), serve fire deterrent drifting embers.
roof top decorations: symbolism can found colors of eaves, roofing materials , roof top decorations. gold/yellow auspicious (good) color, imperial roofs gold or yellow. used emperor. green roofs symbolize bamboo shafts, which, in turn, represent youth , longevity.




^ cite error: named reference zggjz invoked never defined (see page).
^ yu, maohong; oda, yoshiya; fang, dongping; zhao, junhai (2008), advances in structural mechanics of chinese ancient architectures , front. archit. civ. eng. china, 2 (1): 1–25, doi:10.1007/s11709-008-0002-1 
^ archived copy . archived original on 28 june 2014. retrieved 15 september 2014.